Score:  UC Davis 3, San Diego 2 (8)
Winning Pitcher: Caroline Grimes (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: Charlie Johnson (0-1)
Location: Davis, Calif. (La Rue Field)
Records: UC Davis 1-1, San Diego 0-1
 
The short story: Down by two runs entering the eighth inning, UC Davis softball completed the exciting walk-off victory scoring the two runs needed to tie and surpass San Diego for the season's first victory.
 
LEADING OFF

• Sydney Polli and Alyssa Dethlefson scored the tying and winning runs in the eighth as the Aggies locked up their first win of the season
• Ashley Sawai was nearly lights out from the start, going six innings with only giving up one earned run and three hits while striking out five
• Caroline Grimes, who got the win, was unhittable in her two innings of relief giving up no earned runs and striking out five in just 10 batters faced
• Dethlefson, Gia Felice, Naomi Kalanetra and Abby Lee all collected hits for the Aggies at the dish
• Felice stole a pair of bases while Dethlefson added one of her own

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Over the first four innings, Sawai was on fire sitting San Deigo down in order in the first, second and fourth innings allowing just one base runner in the third
• In the fourth inning UC Davis got on the board and the run came thanks to pressure placed on the San Diego defense when Marley Panziera led off the inning getting hit by a pitch
• After being sacrificed over and advancing on a ground out, Panziera stood on third base just steps away from the first Aggie run of 2026
• Lee then put the ball in play, forcing the San Diego pitcher to field her position and with Lee hustling down the line and Panziera making a beat for home the San Diego hurler rushed her throw and sent it over the first basemen's glove and into right field allowing for Panziera to cross the plate and give the Aggies a 1-0 lead
• San Deigo would tie things in the sixth, but thanks to a Dethlefson showing off her arm by throwing out a second runner at home, things remained at 1-1
• That play would be big as the game was still knotted at 1-1 after seven innings, which meant things needed to be settled in extras
• With tournament rules in place, a ghost runner was placed at second to start the eighth, and that runner for San Diego would eventually come around to score
• It would be the only run scored in extras by San Diego as Grimes struck out the next two batters to keep it a one run game heading into the bottom half of the eighth
• Polli took her spot at second, and after being moved to third on a Dethlefson single, she would eventually score the tying run
• Felice, grounding one towards first base, forced a throw home to try and get Polli. But the Aggie runner had moves up her sleeve as she avoided two attempts by the San Diego catcher to tag her out, with those swim moves allowing for UC Davis to tie things up at 2-2
• Keira Brady then bounced one towards shortstop, yet again forcing a play at the plate, this time it was Dethlefson steaming down the line
• Not needing any dance moves, Dethlefson easily beat the throw sliding into home with the winning run to secure an Aggie 3-2 walk off victory

 

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TICKETS: General admission for all games runs $13 while youth (3-13), UC Davis staff members and fans Seniors (65+) can get in the door for $10. Group outings (minimum of 10) can get their tickets at $10 a piece. With the $80 Flexbook, fans receive 10 general admission ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for any of the four home meets during the season in any combination desired. Fans can secure their spot at La Rue Field by hitting the link, by calling the Aggie Ticket Office at (530) 752-2471 or by emailing the Aggie Ticket Office at aggietickets@ucdavis.edu.
 
ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS: UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked No. 1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as No. 1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27.
 
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